Lighting-fixture for theaters and public halls.



- G. H. FOWLER; LIGHTING FIXTURE FOR THEATERS AND PUBLIC HALLS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16. 1912 1 5054,759. V I Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

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WITNESSES: I lwmrol;

1.4/15 AIrolmEr UNITED STATES PATENT UFFQ GLOSS H. FOWLER, OF TACOMA,WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO FOWLER SIGN COMPANY,

OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION.

LIGHTING-FIXTURE FOR THEATERS AND PUBLIC HALLS.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

Application filed January 16, 1912. Serial No. 671,512.

.city of Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Lighting- Fixturcs' forTheaters and Public Halls, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are, first, to suitably light a motionpicture theater-or other public hall wit-h the least interference withthe exhibition on the screen or stage and withthe greatest comfort tothe audience; second, to provide a means for plainly lighting motionpicture theatersand public halls by indirect light reflected anddiifused from panels part of the lighting fixtures; and third, to securethe proper lighting of a motion picture theater or other public hall ata minimum expense. I attain these objects by means of the deviceillustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is plan of asmall theater on which is shown the manner in which my newly inventedlighting fixture is located to light the audience; Fig. 2 1s a sect onalview of my invention showing how it is fixed on the side wall of thetheater or hall; Fig. 3

is a sectional view the same as Fig. 2, and showing an adjusted positionof the fixture on the side wall; and Fig. 4: is anelevation of myinventionffrom a point of view at right angle withthe side wall.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several views.

For a time motion picture theaters were operated with all lights turnedoff while the pictures were being shown on the screen. This made thetheater dark and uninviting to timid people, particularly women andchildren. Laterilight fixtures with colored shades were introduced andare still used to dimly light the theaters and enable the people to findtheir way in and out during the progress of the show.

With my newly invented lighting fixture,

a theater can be clearly lighted so that one can not only find his wayin and out with case but can recognize acquaintances. The decorative andartistic features of the theater interior can be seen and appreciated.All these results are secured without interfering with the scenes on thescreen or stage.

My newly invented lighting fixture cornprises a emi-cylindricalreflector shade hifi which areplaced'and concealed from view theelectric lights B-B. This semi-cylindrical shade is adjustably attachedtorthe side or edgejof panel frame G made of suitable material. Thecurved panel frame O is provided 'with the side cleats D and D designedto form a panel in which cardboard or heavy paper or suitable materialcan he slipped in and out as desired. One side. of the panel frameopposite'the light shade is hinged to a wall strip Eat approved heightfrom the floor to allow the panel frame to be adjusted to the mostsuitable angle with the wall by means of the adjuster arm F, also hingedto the wall at G and, its outward end engaged toslide and clamp in theslot H as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The panel frame being adjustable, it is intended that the panels placednearestthe stage or screen shall be about at right angles with the sideof the theater, and that the angle of each following panel as placedalong the side walls a suitable distances v toward the rear shall drease until the last panel is placed at anangle'of about thirty degreeswith the walls as illustrated at LL in Fig. 1. This arrangement, asidefrom not interfering with a per t view of the screen or stage, affords abetter view of the several panels from the audience than any other. Atthe same time the panels adjusted at any angle with the walls of thirtydegrees or more, do not, expose the lampswr their direct rays to theaudience. 7

The panel slide cleats D and D. are located near the sides of the-panelframe as shown and stand out about one-half an inch from the curved faceof the frame. The cleat next the light reflector shade A is placed aboutsix inches therefrom. This six inch space and the slide cleat ispainteda dead black or dark color. This dark surface in conjunction with theraised cleat eliminates the glare of the electric lights BB onthesurface of the panel C nearest the reflector shade, and the panelthus lighted and on account of its concave surface receives an evendistribution oi light overits entire surface. The six inch space betweenthe reflector shade and the slide cleat has the further advantageofallowing a full view of the panel by the audience from the rear of thehouse. up to a line abreast of the panel.

The reflector. shade oingtilfiiiotally at m reflects and diffuses a softclear light over the audience that is very comfortable and restful.

While the audience'and all features of the room are plainlydiscernible/the pictures on the screen are as'ialea'rly visible as in adark a less electric current than the common room. This is due 'to thefact that all the light from my newly devised fixture is reflected anddiffused away from the screen or stage.

The clearer and'more .restful light pro.- duced by my invention is foundto require dark shaded fixture now used.

The cardboard or paper panel, in addition to being a light surface toreflect and diffuse the light thereon, can be used as an advertisingsurface on which business advfertisements can be printed and displayedin an attractive and effective manner. The

paper panel being made to run loosely into the slide, cleats D-D can bechanged and varied as often as desired. By this means my lightingfixture can be made both useful and profitable to the owner.

My lighting fixture is not to be confined to be used on side walls only.It can be used on the ceiling and for bulletin boards. It can be used toform a border or frame about the screen in motion picture and othertheaters; the light being thrown away from the screen tends toaccentuate the darkness of the screen. The fixture can also be usedabout the entrances in front of a theater or in other halls or lobbiesnot well lightedby other methods.

my invention is the novel idea of combining in a lighting fixture adiffused light reflected away from the screen or stage with a surface orpanel for the radiating and diffusing surface.

While the drawing and this specification sets forth the present andpreferred form of my invention, I reserve the right to vary the samewhen conditions require, to obtain the most practical results withoutdeparting from the spirit and novelty of the device.

Having described my invention and set forthits merits what I claim is 1.An indirect lighting fixture for theaters and public halls, comprising aconcave frame, a reflecting and diffusing panel mounted in said frame,asemi-cyhndrical reflector hinged to one side of said frame,

and one or more sources of light mounted in said reflector.

' 2. A lighting fixture for theaters and public halls, com rising apanel frame carplying medium inclosed within the reflector,

the latter opening toward said panel, and a support to which the frameis hinged on an axis parallel to the reflector- H at. Alighting fixturefor theaters and public halls, comprising a panel frame carrying a lightdiffusing panel, a reflector arranged at an outer edge of said frame, alight supplying medium inclosed within the reflector, the latter openingtoward said panel, a support to which the frame is hinged on an axisparallel to the reflector, and means for adjusting and holding the frameat different positions about its hinge connection as a center.

5. A lighting fixture for theaters andipjublic halls, comprising aframe'having parade. lel panel retaining cleats, a reflector 'ar rangedat an outer edge of said frame parallel to said cleats and spaced fromthe adjacent cleat the frame being surfaced with=a dark color in thespace intervening between the reflector and the cleat adjacent thereto,and a light supp-lying medium inclosed within thereflector, the latteropening toward said frame. 1

6. Alighting fixture for theaters and public halls. comprising a framecarrying a light diffusing panel, a reflector arranged at anouter edgeof the frariie parallel to and spaced from the panel, the frame being,surfaced with a dark color in the spaces" intervening between thereflector and the panel, means of support for the frame at 7 that edgethereof which is opposite to the IBllGCtOL the frame projectinglaterally from its support, and a light supplying me} dium inclosedwithin the reflector, the lattei'i' opening toward the panel.

In testimony whereof I- aflix any ig ture in presence of two witnesses.

' cross it. rewrite.

Witnesses: I

H. R. HEILIG, I. H. HILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressingthe Gommissionerof Patents,

\ Washington, D. G. g

